SUNSHINE is brilliant isn’t it? How lovely we have been treated to some warm weather of late, it is still only May after all. We even had heatwave in April, it’s simply magical. At least it seems that way because as soon as the sun comes out in the UK we all go into a bit of a frenzy, don’t we?

The vast majority of us living in Britain absolutely LOVE the sun and the moment it is out, we push ourselves into summer mode, no matter how short-lived that might be.

It’s one of the many excellent things about us, we might moan about the weather 95 per cent of the time, but when that cheeky ball of fire pops its head out for a bit, we jolly well embrace it with all our might.

It’s no big secret sunshine can generally lift the mood of the average human being.

It can really change a person’s demeanour, my husband for one, as he is a full on grouch when the weather is bad.

Things simply seem to change for the better when the sun appears.

For starters, people are just generally nicer. Parents who barely even look up on the school run some mornings have greeted me with a hearty “hello” and “isn’t it lovely?!” this week.

Then of course, we all stand about for a few extra minutes discussing how much better we feel and how great it is we can put the washing outside for once. Such simple joys.

It’s not just the mood that changes when the weather does, our behaviour is hugely affected too.

With a few days of warmth in the forecast we go all out for summer, because of course, in this country we are all too aware that it simply won’t last.

If the thermometer starts to hit the late teens or even early twenties, it is game on.

On the flip side, some of the sunshine- based conversations I have had this week have been built on panic, particularly when it comes to personal grooming.

One of the school mums discussed with me, in quite some detail, just how terrible the skin on her feet is and how she just isn’t ready for sandals or flip-flops yet.

It’s not just feet that get a look-in either, as some worry about having to expose more flesh after the joy of being wrapped in big cosy jumpers and full length everything during the winter.

The sun has us switching from pie and mash to salad for dinner and disappearing into the back of the bathroom cabinet looking for last year’s bottle of fake tan.

Then there’s body hair and the thought of actually having to shave your legs, if that’s your bag, after months of neglect, for fear of someone catching sight of your stubble.

That’s an extra half an hour in the bathroom at least.

Don’t get me started on the summer wardrobe conundrum either.

In May, the air isn’t quite warm enough first thing in the morning, even if the sun is out, so you have to dress for one season before you leave the house, only to peel off several layers as the day progresses. The struggle is real.

It’s not just the personal prep that needs taking care of in the unlikely event of warm sunshine in the UK, it’s all the other stuff you need to cram into these glorious days, like ice creams on the beach, a pint in the pub garden and the all important barbecue.

Just as the temperature really started to lift over the bank holiday, I got my first whiff of sizzling meat from a nearby garden. Even for a hardened veggie like me, it still smelt absolutely amazing.

It had me scrabbling around the garden shed for our tiny barbecue and almost galloping to the shops for some meat-free sausages and a couple of packets of halloumi.

Despite the monumental effort it takes to actually prepare, light and successfully cook on a barbecue, we can’t get enough, can we?

Once barbecue season opens, and it looks very much like it already has, we will be out in our gardens at every given opportunity to enjoy a cremated burger wedged in a seeded bap.

Actually, it really doesn’t even have to be sunny for some.

My uncle barbecues in all weathers from April to October, even if everyone else is watching him from his warm, dry conservatory as he cooks in the rain under a brolly.

Truth be told, we all get a little bit over-excited for sunshine in this country and let’s be honest why the heck shouldn’t we?

A little bit of sun on our faces, with the right sun tan lotion to protect us people, can do us the world of good.

So let’s get fully on board and enjoy every drop of this glorious sunshine while it lasts.

By Lynsey Bartlett